Springfield
Major Settlement in the Parish of Springfield
Historical Forms
- Springinghefeldā 1086 DB
- Springafeldā 1086 DB
- Springefeld, Spryngefeld 1190 P 1198 FF 1236 Fees 1280 Ipm 1321 Londin 1346 FA
- Spryngefeud 1247 FF t.Hy3 RBE 1275,1284 Ipm
- Springfeld Besevile 1428 FA
- Sprynfeld 1538 HMCx
- Springford t.Hy3–t.Ed3 FA
- Sprigfeud 1279 FF
- Springgesfeud 1291 Tax
- Springkefeld 1292 Ipm
- Spryngwell 1468 Pat
- Bueseuilla, Besewil (1188, 1212 Fees)
Etymology
v. spring , feld . If the first form is reliable, this was originally an ing -name. One might suggest 'open country of the dwellers by the spring(s)' (v. ing ), but there is no evidence for any special frequency of springs here, though White (306) does say “It had its name from its numerous springs,” and it may be that spring is used in the common Essex sense of 'young copse, wood.' The earliest example of that word hitherto recorded is dated 1399 (NED spring sb. 10). Cf. Spring Hill and Spring Field infra 349, 610. An equally difficult name is Springthorpe (C) DB Springetorp . Besevile from the family of Ralph de Bueseuilla , Besewil (1188, 1212 Fees) who probably derived their name from Beuzeville-la-Bastille (Manche).